Direction signal



Feb. 28, 1328. 1,660,722

\ E. J. RHOADES DIRECTICN SIGNAL Filed March 7. 1927- 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 2220 J iaads BY I If ATTORfiEV Feb. 28, 1928.

' E. J. RHOADES DIRECTION SIGNAL Filed March 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR [mi/9 JZZZ/mde; ATTCRW Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

EMORY J. RI-I OAD E S, F WALLA WALLA, WASHINGTOITL DIRECTION SIGNAL.

A'pplication filed March 7, 1927. Serial No. 173,244:

- This invention relates to direction signals andf has as one of its objects to provide'at direction: signal that is applicable for-use on'closed cars, or where it 1s *(jlQSll'Qd to opcrate the's'ignal from: a more or-less-remote.

position. Y 7

Another: object of the invention is to provide a direction signal: that is adaptedifor.

closed car showing: the application of: the

device;

Fig; 2. is a" plan-view: of afragment of the.

top; of a carashowingthe deviceiinstalled and inzthe position of rest;

Fig. 3 is a similar vlew to the indicator hand extended forward;

. Fig.- 4C-shows an-edge or vertical position of the indicatorhand;

' Fig- 5 showsthe indicator hand in avertical and indicating position;

Fig. 6' is a: plan viewfrom securing.- platey,

Fig-.7 is an end'view of the lever handle showinglthe relative position of the telltale therewith and Fig; 8' is a side elevation of the-lever handle. and: operating; lever, showing. their hinged connections. Y a Having: reference to the drawings like numerals refer to; like parts 1 throughoutthe several :vieyvsand' the 'numeralal refers to the signaling:meansiiinitsentirety; and this signaling; means" comprises Y members Y assembled to-tforin. a ballrandssocket oint, the ball 2 :.thereofbeing positioned within the supporting means 3, in this case the top 4 of a sedan '.theisnpporting;'means being: cutto fit joint: 1, i Y

The joint is further secured therein and Fig. 2v showing Y erated fro'm the inside f of'the car, or the below of one" the ball nicely to act as a frictioni'bearing: therefor and thus becominga part of the either side of the support and these plates consistofdisks-having central orifices'6' of spherical form to "engagethe ball 2. on either side of the support 3; andthe'plates are secured to the support -bybolts 7 the'heads' thereof" preferably beingcountersunk to 643i present a, smooth surfaceon the top plate and having the nuts 8 projecting for apur pose tome-explained; Y

Itis now obvious that a -jointofthiscon struction is adapted to admit of rotary mo. I

ti on in every direction within" certain limits;

Attachedto and eXtending-in one direction: p from the ball is an indicatorlever 9; and

'this lever is arranged to extend almost but not quite tangentially (enough jso however ve that it maybe termed tangentially) with respect to the ball"2, this positioning ofthe' lever admitting of moving the lever to-arelativelyvertical position as shown in Fig."

5, by avoidingwithi this offset, the sidewall ofthe orifice;

Attachedme similar manner;v and in' a similar but opposite position to the indicator: lever; isan 'operating levenlfl" Y While the indicator lever operates on one 8 'side of the support, the operating lever op-= erates on the other side thereof, and by this arrangement the indicator lever may be 7 op other side of the support. I

To provide for a correct positioning of the indicator-lever'the' nuts 8 are'arrang'edy to form" stops and theseare positionedslightly off center with respectto the operating lever "10' to permit 1 that member' to -come W to rest in a predetermined position in reg'ister against the nuts for engagement therewith when. the movement of the indicator. Y lever is completed. I a Y The indicator leveris equipped"withv an 9 5' indicating figure, such as a hand 11, and 'as itis essential that the flatwof the hand be presented to thelsignaled for observance and from the facttliat'r-the hand is not" within the range of 'visiion of the operator; a lever 1'00 handle: 12 'is" provided*Which is; pivotally attached to the operating leverand this han'dle' is 'positioned iwithrespect to -thov hand so that its flat surface or other indie ative marlerwill be= in.'accordance with the Position Offthe handi he. lever Iihandle' c'121eis-f also adaptedatomove through various degrees of arc with respect to the operating lever, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 5, and thus'is adapted I action is necessary, a telltale 18 is provided consisting of a tassel 1 1, .or other similar means, supported from the end of the handle by a flexible connecting means 15. This telltale by its flexibility, ,and depending position, can be located in the dark as well as inthe light by the movement of the hand of the-operator in a horizontal plane, and when once located the operator is assured that the lever handle is immediately available. r

In use the-lever handle is located through the medium of the telltale and the operating lever is moved to register with the respective nut when, the indicator hand is in a correct position for signaling.

The indicating lever normally rests on the top of the car, as shown by the solid line in Fig. 2, the dotted lines in prolongation'there of representing the operating lever. To move the indicating level-to a position perpendicular to this normal position, the

handle is pulled downward slightly to permit the operating levertoiniss the nuts in its rotation, and the operating lever is then seated in itsposition against said nuts, see

. Fig. 6.

Nowto indicate that'the vehicle is going to stop the lever handle is pulled downward until the hand assumes the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, then to place I the signaling means at the place of rest the handle is moved to the position shown dotted in'Fig. 5 whentheball may be rotated and the device will assume the position shown in'Fig. 4, the hand in this case being still erect but edge on.

Now by forcing the handle forward the I hand will again assume the. position of rest shown in Fig. 2, as before mentioned andthe device will again be in readiness for operation. I

Where it is desired to maintain the signal in an erect position a spring clip 16 -may be utilized,;the clip being secured to one of the plates in any suitable manner, with its spring end positioned to engage the arm 9 in the desired position. I

Having thus described my invention, I claim: i 1. In a direction signal, a signaling means comprising a ball mounted in a support'and secured'thereinby securing plates mounted on either side of said support, said plates" l'orming with said ball a ball joint, means to secure said plates to said support, said means being positioned, and extended to form stops, a movable indicating lever. carrying an indicating handattached tangentially to and extended from said ball, and normally positioned to lay on one side of said support, and an operating leven attached tangentially to and extending fromsaid ball and normally positioned to lay' on the opposite side and in an opposite direction from said indicating lever, and providing an offset engageable by said stops, and a tell tale attached to and depending from said operating lever. a

r 2. In a direction signal, a signaling means comprising a ball mounted in a support and secured therein by securing plates mounted on either side of said support, said plates forming with said ball a ball joint, means to secure said plates to said support, said means being positioned, and extended to form stops, a movable indicating lever carrying anindicating hand attached tangentially to and extended from said ball, and

normally positioned to lay on one s ide of said support, and an operating lever attached tangentially to and extending from said ball normally positioned to lay on the op;

posite side and in an opposite direction from said indicating lever, and providing an oifset engagea-ble by said stops, a lever handle normally depending and pivotally attached to said'operating lever, and a tell tale attached to and depending from said lever handle. I j

3. In a direction signal, the combination of a signaling means comprising a ball mountedin a support and secured therein by securing plates mounted on'either side of said support, said plates forming with said ball a ball joint, means to secure said plates to said support, said means being positioned, and extended to form stops, a movable indicating lever carrying an indicating hand attached tangentially to and extended from, said ball, and normally positioned to lay on one side of said support, and an operating lever attached tangentially'to and extending from said ball and normally positioned to lay on the opposite side and inan opposite direction from said indicating lever, and providing an ofiset engageable bysaid stops, a lever handlenormally and pivotally attached to said operating lever, and a tell tale attached to and depending from said lever handle.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. 

